Hemp store opens in south Springfield

A new store selling hemp products and “CBD” is now open on the south side.

Russ Powers, who owns Hemporium with his wife Shelley and business partners Greg and Rachel Lee, launched the store on Oct. 15 at 4139 S. National Ave. in the Twin Oaks Shopping Center. He declined to disclose terms for the three-year lease for the 1,650-square-foot space or say what the business partners invested in the venture.

“We carry all hemp products. There’s nothing in here that’s not a derivative of hemp,” Powers said. “There’s other ‘CBD’ stores, but we’re a full hemp store.”

“Cannabidiol,” commonly known as “CBD,” is a nonintoxicating component of cannabis used for chronic inflammation and pain.

Powers, who also owns a UPS store in Branson, said an employee there has rheumatoid arthritis and began taking a water-soluble “CBD.”

“It basically changed her life,” he said.

Powers then bought “CBD” for his parents and later himself and his wife, and he said all experienced benefits for various ailments. He then was connected with Greg Lee, who had interest in opening a store, and they partnered to create Hemporium.

Hemporium carries products such as candy and trail mix with “CBD” via Infused Edibles LLC — Lee is a wholesale distributor for the company. The Springfield store also offers pet food infused with “CBD,” as well as hemp clothing, backpacks, wallets, and bath and body products.

Hemporium joins other “CBD” sellers in Springfield, including CBD of Springfield and Canna Bliss.

Powers said a Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce ribbon-cutting ceremony is scheduled for Nov. 6, the same day Missouri voters will decide whether to legalize medical marijuana in the state. There are three ballot initiative options.

Powers said if medical marijuana passes, he and Lee would consider opening a dispensary. He said the dispensary would be a separate entity from Hemporium.

“We would be interested in that, but it wouldn’t be in this location,” Powers said.